MtbREVIEW.com supports IMBA and responsible riding. Please submit only legal
trails to our list. If you discover a trail posted on this site that is not
open for public mountain biking, please email our IMBA friends at
info@imba.com with detailed info.
They'll help us remove the unauthorized trail from the site.
Click here for info about keeping our trails open.
If this is the correct location, click "Save Point" below or type the nearest location (country, city, Zip, or land mark) and the map will pan over to the location if the location is found.
Save Point
Go to Nearest Location:
Lat:
Lng:
Squaw Leap
3 reviews
4.67 of 5
Awesome ride. Great climbs and descents with an occasional glimpse of some rare wildlife. Beware of ruts after big rains.
Take 41 North from Fresno to the Friant Road Exit. Take Friant north to Auberry. Past Auberry Road takeleft on road to power plant (See link for further directions).
Summary: Fun semi-technical/technical single and double track. Managed by BLM w/ friendly treatment towards MTBers thanks to the consistent efforts of local bike shops and advocacy groups like CCORC
Recommended Route: The ridge loop mentioned above is really fun and can be done in 1-1.5 hours. If you want a longer, more difficult ride, veer off the ridge loop onto the river trail and follow it until you get to the bad dreams hotel(you'll know when your there). Just look at the map at the entrance from the main parking lot and it will show the river or ridge routes. Don't be alarmed that you're riding half the day before you reach bad dreams-it's f@#$&%*n out there. Once you get there check out the views and some of the memorabilia and get ready for the ride back the same way you came. As mentioned above, bring plenty of food and water. I used to do this ride a lot in college and bonked more than once. I agree, this trail knocks the socks off most of the Bay Area trails(I've ridden most of em), so if you've only ridden in the bay area to this point go ride Squaws and find out what a real semi-technical trail is like. Its good on any bike-full suspendy, hardtail and even singlespeed if you've got the skills.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Go explore, you'll like it out there
Would you like to Comment? Join MTBR.com for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
Review Date August 18, 2003
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Aerobic Difficulty 5 of 5
Technical Difficulty 4 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a month
Reviewed by: Derek
,
Downhiller
, from Fresno, CA
Summary: First of all, this is absolutly NOT a bay area trail. This trail puts all bay area trails to shame as they are all crap. This is a FRESNO area trail and should be in the section for all other areas of california.
Ok well this is a very good ride. Total length is 8 miles, but it takes a while to do. If you are in good shape it should take about 2 hours. It isn't too steap but most will walk a little towards the top. All the DH is rideable. Trail starts off with a 1 mile DH to the bridge, climbs for 3 miles on not too steap single track, and then 3 mile DH back to the bridge where you climb out the first mile you went down. Make sure you bring lots of water. This trail is 100% exposed to Fresno sun. In the summer daytime temps may be in excess of 110 degrees F and there is no shade. It is a very fun ride that all should check out if you are in the Fresno area. You can also link this ride to Sky Harbor Road which makes a long single track ride. I don't know milege for sure, but I think it is in the 20-30 mile range one way to Sky Harbor. Don't forget to close all the cow gates and watch out for hikers. We have open access and no speed limits for bikes in area and I would like it to stay that way. This ride also provides great views of the SJ valley.
The rating is as such. I gave it a 5 for aerobic due to the heat in the summer. If you ride early morning or in the spring or fall, I would call it a 4. Difficulty gets a 4 if you go fast, 3 if you take it easy. Trail deserves a 5 overall since it is all single track, has great views, a good DH, is a great work out, and is open to bikes year round. Plus it is only 45 min from Fresno.
Recommended Route: Ride downhill from the parking lot and accross the bridge. I like to ride counter clockwise from here since the climb is easier and you will get a better downhill this way.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Tour De Granite, 007, Goat Mountain, Willow Creek, Sky Harbor Road.
Would you like to Comment? Join MTBR.com for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
Review Date May 11, 2002
Overall Rating 4 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a year
Reviewed by: Paul
, from Walnut Creek, CA
Summary: This trail offers it all: heinous climb, super-fast or super-technical descent(depending on which direction you take the loop), the thrill of death, breathtaking views. It's all there. Ride from the parking lot, through a couple cow gates, across the bridge to where the loop starts. Take the loop counter-clockwise for a low-tech, evil, relentless climb through lots of trees and cows. The descent includes lots of loose rocks and is very technical. Be careful, because if you fall to your left, you will tumble several hundred feet into a rocky stream and most certainly not live to tell about it. Note that the Squaw Leap valley in summer can be even hotter than Fresno. Not that I wouldn't ride it because of that. It's cool to have the buzzards land in the trees over your head when you stop to rest. About 7 miles from start to finish.
Would you like to Comment? Join MTBR.com for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
4.67 of 5
5 of 5
4 of 5
3 of 5
5 of 5
4 of 5
